Ancient wardrums hit Boston stage in exciting 'Shin-On'

The Boston production has 10 Japanese taiko percussionists who add a little spice, flair and youth to the show at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston, Dec. 1-2.

Francis Ma

The Japanese war drums that once struck fear in the hearts of ancient soldiers are now beating their thunderous sounds on the stage and thrilling audiences around the world.

More than 2,000 years ago, Japanese taiko drummers took their massive, earth-shaking drums to the battlefields to scare Japan’s enemies and to help generals communicate with other troops in the area.

Today, the show “Yamato: Shin-On (Heartbeat)” incorporates those same battlefield taiko drums in a world-renowned production that has played more than 900 shows since 1993.

The Boston production has 10 Japanese taiko percussionists who add a little spice, flair and youth to the show at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston, Dec. 1-2.

“This is a new generation of drummers,” says producer Uriel Luft. “They are all young and energetic.”

But don’t think that you need to know all about Japan’s war history or understand the religious significance of the taiko drum. No, to fully appreciate this show, all one has to do is enjoy the loud, repetitive thumping of a large drum.

The group, officially called Wadaiko Yamato, started in 1993 by Masaki Ogawa in Nara, Japan, the city that just may be the birthplace of Japanese culture. The name “Yamato” is what Japan was called in the eighth century.

Ogawa’s company spent those early years simply introducing the public to the ancient, traditional practice. Since then, the company has changed the show every two years, evolving each time and slowly stepping away from the traditional aspects.

It garnered international attention in 1998 when they won the Spirit of Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The current show is a far cry from Ogawa’s traditional production. It’s more exciting, has more interaction with the audience, and women have stepped out from the shadows, now sharing the spotlight with their male counterparts (the Boston show has five men and five women performers).

And the show continues to evolve. According to Luft, when Yamato returns to Boston, they are doing something that may be a little foreign to the taiko drum — they will be played softly.

“There’s a different concept to this show,” explains Luft. “The last show this company did was called ‘Thunder.’ This one is called ‘Shin-On,’ which means heartbeat.”

This doesn’t mean that the “thunder” aspect is gone. The same booming sounds that have caused past audiences to stand up and scream will still be included in the show.

And, amazingly, these young performers inject some humor into the show.

“During one part, two men and two women compete against each other on stage to see who drums better and faster,” says Luft. “It’s really very funny and a great aspect to the show.”

There are more than 20 drums involved in the show, most of which weigh about 20 pounds. The biggest drum is four feet in diameter, six feet long, and weighs in at 700 pounds. And when that one gets hit, you don’t just hear it, you feel it.

“That’s why the show is so popular,” says Luft. “That big drum resonates really well with the audience. It’s not an intellectual experience. It’s something you feel in your body. Afterwards, when people are exiting the show, they are always smiling. And that’s something I value and I believe it justifies the validity of what I’m doing.”

For Luft, this show is about more than showcasing young, contemporary taiko drummers for the world. He’s seen all their shows from 1999 on and says he remembers being impressed because the company was doing something different.

“They put their soul and hearts into their drums and project that into the audience,” says Luft. “The show is full of positive energy and that interested me very much. Today, with everything that is happening, I think we need to give something clean and positive to an audience.”

Oh, and just be warned. After you see this show, you are really going to want to bang a drum.